BOSTON (WWLP) – Allegations against the state’s Department of Transportation claim the agency misused state time and resources.

It all stemmed from an email between Department of Transportation officials, but what was said could be an illegal use of state resources during working hours.

An email exchanged between members of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation revealed officials using state resources, like state-issued email accounts, to campaign against the gas tax ballot question.

Rep. Geoff Diehl said, “This activity, to be clear, is illegal, as state employees cannot be directed to work against a political campaign.”

MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey confirmed the validity of the email to 22 News and said that he doesn’t consider it campaigning; he believes it’s his job, ” We need to be informing the public about exactly what the question on the ballot means, and I’m not sure if that’s campaigning against. I think its informing people, which is our obligation as state officials.”

The gas tax ballot question committee is asking for the state’s Ethics Commission to fully investigate the DOT’s use of state resources and what they do when they’re supposed to be working. They believe the issue needs to be resolved before other state agencies do the same, if they aren’t already.

I asked Secretary Davey whether he thought the DOT was using state resources and working hours efficiently. His response was, “Absolutely.”